Spring Cleaning: benefits beyond a clean home

Here in the Midwest, spring has arrived, and many people feel the annual urge to deep clean and declutter. But did you know that spring cleaning goes beyond just benefiting your home? General cleaning positively impacts mental health, and the deep cleaning, organizing, and often purging of items in the spring reduces stress, improves focus and productivity, increases feelings of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem/pride, decreases depression, and increases energy. It also encourages healthy habits, let go of undesired emotions, and finding peace in owning less. Here's how engaging in spring cleaning (or any cleaning of your space) can improve your mental health:

Cluttered spaces can contribute to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Spring cleaning allows you to create order and control, which can reduce stress levels.

A clean and organized space can help eliminate distractions and improve focus.

Decluttering your workspace can enhance efficiency and creativity.

A clean home can boost your mood and increase motivation.

The physical activity of cleaning can be therapeutic and provide a sense of accomplishment.

A clean and organized bedroom can promote restful sleep.

Knowing the benefits of spring cleaning, it's also important to approach it in a way that maximizes benefit. Most of us have more belongings than we need or want, and the thought of tackling the entire house or garage can be overwhelming. So choosing an area to start giving yourself permission to take breaks not only throughout the day but also over time can help keep the task more manageable. Some people choose to start on the room that has the most clutter, others begin with the less overwhelming closets. Wherever you begin, set an intention or goals for what you'd like to accomplish that day. Be realistic and reasonable with your goal and a plan for moving through the space.

Involving others is another effective way to tackle large tasks. Have others in the home go through their spaces and tackle joint spaces together. Each person will feel a sense of accomplishment and control while supporting others in making these decisions. We can also learn from each other with talking about the reasons for keeping or discarding certain items. This can lead to self-reflection of values/beliefs about objects and how we view our spaces, a deeper understanding of what feels good to each person, and help with problem solving when deciding where to put the items you keep.

When sorting through your belongings, you'll need to make tough decisions about what to keep and what to discard. Ask yourself these questions when making those decisions: "does this item have a purpose?", "is this item in good condition for its purpose?", "if I remove it, will I need to replace it with something else? (and is it worth the cost of the new item?)", "does this item hold positive sentimental memories?", "how will letting this item go impact me in my daily life tasks and emotionally?", etc. Once you've decided to let go of items, you can sort by donations, trash, and upcycling. (The key to donations and upcycling is to bring the items to the donation center the same or next day and to complete your upcycling project within a reasonable time frame as to avoid further clutter.) A meaningful step in the letting go is practicing gratitude for the purpose the items served for you. Whether it was to complete a one-time task or hold on to a memory, reflecting on how it benefited you will help you to let it go (especially if you're donating it).

When you've decided on what to keep, clean the items and space before putting it back. Make sure to find an organizational method that works for you. People who have their spaces organized are less stressed and anxious because they know not only where to find things but also use the item. Clothes, for example, can be folded and placed in drawers in rows rather than stacked on top of each other. By doing this, you can see all of your clothes every time you open the drawer. Another hack is to hang your clothes the opposite way you typically would. As you wear the clothes, replace them on the hangers your normal direction. This will help you to truly see what you do and do not wear and perhaps further the decluttering process.

Cleaning of your space is just as important as decluttering and organization. Dusting away the cobwebs, scrubbing the floors, washing windows, etc. has great benefit. Cleaning spaces often leaves us with a sense of pride, peace, and clarity while being in sanitary conditions safe for cooking, playing, chilling on the couch.

Consider opening your windows to allow for fresh air fill your home, burning a candle or incense, hang your laundry outside, or anything else that gives you the fresh start to a new season. Want to further explore the opportunities for growth in the new spring season? Fill out my contact form to learn to connect with me and see how therapy can help you navigate your busy, cluttered thoughts and emotions.